Court grants businessman N200,000 bail for alleged tampering with electricity meter

A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Karshi, Abuja, on Thursday granted bail in the sum of N200,000 to a 44-year-old businessman, Adewale Joshua, for alleged tampering with electricity meter.

Joshua of Jikwoyi, Abuja, was charged with theft, an offence contrary to section 286 (2) of the Penal Code.

The presiding Judge, Mr Aliyu Ibrahim, who granted the bail, ordered the defendant to produce a reasonable surety in like sum.

Ibrahim said that the surety must have a reliable source of income, reside within the jurisdiction of the court, deposit his driver’s licence or national identity card with the court.

The prosecutor, Mahmud Ismai’la, had told the court that the matter was reported to Jikwoyi Police Station by one Otuokpaikhian Bobby of AEDC, Garki, Abuja, on July 19.

He said the official reported that the defendant criminally consumed 864 Kilowatts of electricity worth N31,665 between June and July.

Ismai’la also said that the defendant also avoided payments by tampering with the electric meter.

Joshua, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court adjourned the matter till April 4, for hearing.